Tidy Towns committees are 'losing points for the exterior of houses that are in town and village centres'

A Leitrim councillor has called on the council to outline what stipulations exist in social housing tenancy agreements requiring tenants to maintain the exterior of their properties to an acceptable standard and where tenants fail to do so, it is the council's responsibility to ensure proper maintenance. 

Cllr Maeve Reynolds said the motion was inspired by the "great work done by Tidy Towns in all of our towns and villages; they are losing points for the exterior of houses that are in town and village centres that are not being maintained. We are looking for the council to step in, where it is their property; that their tenants are maintaining it. It has been raised with me in Treanmore, Mohill; that there are council properties with tenants in them and with none in them, that are not being kept. The question is will the council step in when they are not being kept."

The official response said that as outlined in the tenancy agreement signed by all local authority housing tenants, the tenant shall maintain the dwelling and gardens/yard and driveway of the dwelling in a neat and tidy condition and ensure that the external appearance of the dwelling and garden do not detract from the visual amenity of the neighbourhood. The tenant shall be responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of the fences/walls bounding the property. The tenant shall be responsible for maintaining the garden and green verges in the property, removing weeds and keeping the garden cut on a regular basis. 

READ MORE: Potential owners of a former hotel in Leitrim 'now embroiled in a legal dispute'

Tenants are obliged to adhere to the regulations contained in their tenancy agreement in relation to the exterior of their property and make any necessary repairs or reinstatement to the property as requested by the council. If the council are required to carry out any repairs it may recover the cost of such repairs or replacement from the tenant. 

Cllr Reynolds noted that it is in the tenancy agreement that it is the tenants responsibility to "uphold it and I'm asking what has being done when they are breaking their responsibility, according to the agreement?"

Deputy Chief Executive of Leitrim Council Mary Quinn said that the council "try and enforce that as best we can. I am familiar with the issues in Mohill in terms of the work that the Tidy Towns do. We have stepped in on occasions to troubleshoot problem areas where they may arise."

Cllr Cormac Flynn stated that there are similar issues in St Patrick's Park, Breffni Crescent, Breffni Heights, Kingston Terrace etc and said that "massive" work is being carried out Residents' Association which is being undermined by these properties. "I've rarely seen a group work so hard and with such pride and then they are let down by an absolutely tiny minority."

READ MORE: Leitrim-based filmmaker chronicles Irish nurse’s story in Spanish Civil War

He asked how often the council "steps in" and "how often have tenants been charged? The issues I see are very long-term."

Ms Quinn admitted that tenants that have been charged are "in the minority" with Cllr Flynn saying that he worried there would be a "contagion effect; if my neighbour isn't bothered, why should I be?" 

He said that he would suggest the council contact the tenants of the houses in question saying they "are letting their neighbours and communities down" with Cllr Reynolds supporting this suggestion. 

Cllr Sean McGowan supported the motion adding that the "vast majority of tenants in the estates have pride in their estates."

Cllr Enda Stenson said he could count the properties causing issues on "two fingers" and "everyone knows it" adding that he felt "writing to them is an absolute waste of time". 

He continued: "It's wrong what some people can do and get away with in a local authority house. The amount of money spent in Treanmore when it was refurbished and it was absolutely beautiful" before adding, "some people have no respect whatsoever for the houses, their neighbours or anybody else." 

READ MORE: ALERT: Gardaí investigating Leitrim burglary and car theft appeal for information

He stated: "It is not fair to the other people."

Cllr Flynn and Cllr Stenson discussed the need to attempt to try and rectify the situation with Cllr Flynn stressing that the council can recover the cost of repairs carried out on their properties. 

He stated: "That mechanism is there in writing and maybe it's worth a shot; doing nothing is not an option and there'll be no political pushback from me if the council tries to do something."